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How to wash and clean a puffer jacket: The beverage an expert says will keep your puffer jacket fresh and clean all winter
Puffer jackets are a winter wardrobe staple but they’re not the kind of thing you can just toss in the washing machine without a second thought.
In fact, you often don’t even need to wash them to keep them fresh and clean between wears if you follow a few maintenance tips.
But for those occasions when your puffer jacket requires a machine wash, there are a few guidelines that will ensure your jacket lasts for plenty of winters to come.
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Laundry expert and Soka Australia founder Nicole Gibson tells 9honey Living that airing out puffer jackets after you’ve worn them makes a huge difference to their cleanliness and smell.
“Turn it inside out, hang it up in a nice breezy spot in your house and just air it out rather than putting it straight back in your cupboard,” she says.
You can also just wipe your jacket with a damp microfibre cloth to clean it if it’s picked up any dirt from outside and leave it to air dry.
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If the underarms of the jacket have absorbed any odour, Gibson recommends spritzing that area with a spray that contains enzymes as this will kill the bacteria that’s causing the smell.
Another option for freshening up puffer jackets and neutralising underarm odour is to use vodka by popping the beverage in a spray bottle and then spraying the garment as needed.
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Of course, sweat stains and odour is less likely to transfer to a jacket if you have layers on underneath or at least an undershirt covering your underarms.
Stains on puffer jackets are best spot cleaned as soon as possible. To do this Gibson uses her own stain remover spray which requires two ingredients you probably have at home.
Watch the video below to find out how to make Gibson’s stain remover spray.
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But there might be times when you do want to give your puffer jacket a thorough clean by washing in the machine.
However, Gibson warns that it’s best not to make it a regular thing.
“The more you wash it, the more it breaks down and it gets thinner and therefore it’s not as aerated and then it’s not as thermal so it doesn’t keep you as warm.
“[If you’ve ever] bought your jacket and then like a year or two later it’s really thin, it’s got nothing left, that’s because of the breakdown of the polyfill and so that’s what you want to avoid [with washing].”
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How to wash a puffer jacket
Before you wash your puffer jacket – or anything, really – make sure you check the care instructions.
Puffer jackets made from polyester can go in the washing machine but for best results you’ll need to use a low sud detergent such as castile soap or a wool and delicates detergent.
“I would always recommend low sud regardless if it’s polyester or a down jacket because low sud means low sud, basically. So in the rinse process of your washing machine, it’s easy to rinse out all those bubbles and soap suds and residue and therefore it’s not leaving a film on the outside or in the inside of your down or your polyester jacket – so really important.
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“I always would recommend as well to put [puffer jackets] in a mesh bag. You can zip it up, fold it up and put it in a mesh bag, so then it keeps really intact in your washing machine.”
Then you’re good to go using a delicates cycle, depending on what the care instructions on your tag says of course.
However, avoid putting anything white or light coloured in with the puffer jacket as the dyes from them can sometimes leach out during the washing process.
Once your puffer jacket has been washed you can either air dry it or pop it in the dryer. But don’t worry if your jacket looks less puffy than before as it will return to its shape, you just might need to shake it and move the filling with your fingers to redistribute it.
How to dry a puffer jacket after washing
The best practice for using the dryer to dry puffer or down jackets is to use low heat and some wool dryer balls.
“If you don’t have dry balls, use your tennis ball and put it in a sock, put a few in there and what happens is they will bounce around and fluff up the down, aerating it inside,” Gibson says.
“So you may need to manually manipulate where the down is and fluff it up, give it a shake, all of those things to redistribute the down.”
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